I'm With You

by Taylor Dean

  “Right,” he said.

  “I estimate at least two hundred times. You?”

  “Hmmm, I’m gonna say at least two hundred and fifty times.”

  “I wonder if we’re both way off.”

  Jack grabbed the remote and pushed play. “Too high or too low?”

  “Oh, way too low.”

  “You may be right. There’s only one way to find out.”

  Jack wrapped his arm around her and they watched the movie with Chloe resting against his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist. Three hours of bliss. Every time Rose said “Jack,” Jack placed a mark on a piece of paper. They had to rewind a few times when the storyline got dicey and Rose screamed frantically—with good reason, mind you. But they both felt their count was accurate.

  As they checked the final tally, they were both surprised to find that Rose said Jack’s name eighty-one times. Neither one expected the number to be quite that low.

  Jack turned the TV off, bathing the room in darkness. A soft glow emanated from a few dim lights left on in the other room.

  “I wonder how many times I’ll say the name Jack in my lifetime?” Chloe murmured.

  Jack tossed the pen and paper aside and took her in his arms. He pressed his lips to hers as they slowly fell back onto the couch.

  “Here’s to hoping the name Jack becomes what slips from your lips in moments of extreme pleasure,” he said, his lips still on hers.

  Their lips parted and he kissed her deeply. Every part of him seemed to seep into her, making them fuse into one.

  “Then, here’s to hoping I say it often and repeatedly,” she mumbled.

  “I won’t disappoint.” Jack paused, his handsome face hovering above hers. “Is it obvious that I’m completely in love with you, Chloe?”

  It was the first time he’d said it out loud and her heart skipped a beat. Their actions did, in fact, make their feelings obvious to both of them. Still it was incredible to hear Jack say the magic words out loud. “Yes, but I love hearing it. I feel the same. I love you, Jack,” she returned. “I didn’t know it was going to be you. How is that possible? Shouldn’t I have taken one look at you and known?”

  “Don’t worry. I knew.” His kiss turned demanding as he took her mouth and made it his own, as if he was claiming his property—and Chloe wanted to be his.

  “I know now. That’s all that matters,” she said in between kisses. “I don’t want to leave your arms. It’s the place where I feel the most happy, the most secure, the most safe, and the most loved.”

  It was a long while later that they finally emerged from their heated embrace. If there had been any doubt in her mind of whether or not they were compatible, it had been erased. Jack had branded her his with his kisses and she could hardly think beyond this moment. He filled her thoughts and immersed her soul.

  Jack walked her to the door, taking her in his arms and kissing her soundly, telling her it was time to go, yet holding her in place. “I’ll watch from the upstairs window,” he murmured.

  It had become a tradition for Jack to watch from the front bedroom window, the room that used to be his temporary bedroom. He’d watch to be sure she got into her car safely and then he’d wave as she drove away. By the time she reached the end of the street, she always turned in her seat to check the window. He was always there, a shadowy mass against the light, watching until she was no longer in sight. It made her feel safe and watched over. It made her feel as though he hated the separation and felt compelled to watch till he could no longer see her. The drive home was always the hardest, as if an invisible rope attached them together, and the further away they were, the more taut the rope became, pulling painfully on her body and making her ache with longing. Time spent apart was becoming harder and harder.

  “Would you go already?” Jack mumbled, his hold on her tightening, his kiss deepening. “Some people just don’t know when to leave,” he said in between kisses. “They overstay their welcome. Sheesh.”

  Chloe’s lips turned into a smile and Jack still kissed her, tugging at her lips till she kissed him back.

  He pulled away unexpectedly and taking her by the shoulders, turned her towards the door. “Go,” he said.

  She’d only taken one step when he grabbed her and pulled her back to him, kissing her with pent up passion. “Soon, Chloe. Soon we won’t have to say goodbye.”

  Abruptly, he let her go and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. When he reached the top he yelled, “The wedding night!”

  Chloe knew that’s where they were headed, but it was nice to know Jack was on the same wavelength. It wasn’t something they’d spoken of in detail. They smiled at each other, he at the top of the stairs, and she at the bottom. “That one’s easy. Yentl,” she told him proudly.

  He winked and said, “By the way, don’t tell anyone I know that movie.”

  What a nut. “Your secret is safe with me, it’s just not safe with your sisters.” The other day Harper had told her that Jack’s favorite movie was The Notebook. It wasn’t. It was Braveheart. A decidedly un-chick-flick-like movie. As a matter of fact, Jack was a little peeved when Chloe told him what Harper had said. Just to prove a point, they’d watched X-Men, Iron Man, and several shoot ‘em-up type movies last week. Jack felt properly vindicated.

  Chloe left, closing and locking the door behind her. Jack was already at the window, blowing her a kiss. It was obvious he was crazy for her. He didn’t try to hide it and Chloe loved it.

  The feeling was entirely mutual.

  Chloe’s phone rang at seven a.m. In her attempt to retrieve the blaring little object, it fell to the floor. After much fumbling, she finally answered groggily.

  “Will you come to dinner tonight?” Jack asked without preamble.

  “Don’t I every night?” she countered. They’d never had to plan a time for her to come, since she was already at his house all day working anyway. Things were changing.

  “I have something special planned.”

  What did that mean? Steak instead of burgers? “Okay. I’ll be there.”

  “Come at eight.”

  “Not till eight?”

  “Not a moment earlier. And don’t use your key. Ring the doorbell and wait for me to answer.”

  Chloe hesitated, her curiosity piqued. Now fully awake, she responded with, “All right. For the record, you’re making me nervous.”

  “Don’t be. You’ll like this. I promise.”

  “It’s not my birthday. It’s not even remotely close to my birthday.”

  “It’s not a surprise birthday party. It’s just a romantic evening with the woman I love. Don’t ask anything more. Let me surprise you.”

  “Since you put it that way, all right.”

  “Do you start your new job today?”

  “Yes.” Now that Jack’s house was complete, she’d taken on another job, redecorating a real estate agent’s office. As it was, she’d hung onto the job at Jack’s house for as long as she possibly could, dawdling over every little detail. She felt sad to not have a reason to show up at his house every day anymore.

  “You’ll do great. See you tonight, sweetheart.”

  Never mind. She still had a reason.

  Jack himself.

  ≈

  All day Chloe pondered over her upcoming romantic evening with Jack. By the time seven-thirty arrived, her stomach was fluttering with excitement. What exactly did he have in mind for this evening?

  Since Jack didn’t want her to arrive until eight, she’d had plenty of time to buy a new sundress after work. Casual, yet ultra feminine. She took her time with her hair and make-up, wanting to look beautiful for Jack. The idea that he was planning a romantic evening for them left her with the proverbial butterflies dancing in her stomach.

  She rang the doorbell at precisely eight. The smell of barbeque wafted through the air, making her stomach rumble. Jack answered, his expression slightly intense. The fact that he hadn’t changed into his usual shorts and t-shirt aft
er work registered immediately. He wore black slacks and a plain white dress shirt, unbuttoned at the collar. No flip-flops were in sight. He still wore his shiny black loafers. He looked casually elegant, one hand in his pocket and one hand on the door.

  “Come in,” he invited rather formally. The lights in the house were low and soft guitar music played in the background. A few candles were lit here and there.

  Chloe was suddenly glad she’d taken the time to wear a dress. Normally she burst into Jack’s house after using her key—never knocking—yelling, “Jack, it’s me.” Her arms were usually full with miscellaneous decorative items. More often than not, she was casually clad in jeans—her usual work attire.

  But that time was over. His house was done. Now she was a guest and Jack wanted to make the night special. He looked good in the house—or the house looked good on him, she wasn’t sure which. But there was no mistaking that he’d become the man of the house, the master of his domain, and the house suited him perfectly.

  Jack opened the door a little wider. “Are you going to come in?”

  Chloe swallowed nervously, feeling overwhelmed. “The house looks beautiful, Jack.”

  “I have a great designer.”

  His usual smile was nonexistent. His eyes were trained on her and smoldered with…what? If she didn’t know him as well as she did, she’d say barely concealed desire.

  Chloe shifted from foot to foot. “I’m not really sure what to expect. Is it just me and you?”

  “Just me and you. The way I like it.”

  Never mind. Nothing was concealed in his expression. She knew exactly where his thoughts lay.

  He pulled her close in a warm embrace. The smell of his aftershave made her head spin.

  “Come this way,” he motioned, as if she didn’t know every inch of his house like the back of her hand.

  It wasn’t until she could see through the french doors into the backyard that she froze. It looked like something out of a travel brochure. The well lit-up pool was filled with water, a sparkling blue oasis. Chloe had not been involved in the backyard plans; she’d been obsessed with the indoor renovations. Jack had worked with the contractor and made all the decisions concerning his outdoor space himself. Now she could see that the choices he’d made were stylish and classy.

  The work equipment had been removed and the entire area was free of debris. Instead of concrete, Jack had a roughly hewn flagstone installed. The fence surrounding the property was stone, like something you would see on a country estate in England. Elegant wrought iron lawn furniture dotted the area, giving it a resort feel. Several strategically placed lights lit the area, creating a decidedly romantic atmosphere. She stepped onto the patio to find that the outdoor speakers allowed the indoor music to flow outside as well.

  “Welcome to the scorpion-free, demilitarized zone.”

  “Jack, how did you do this in one day? Just last night this place was still a mess.”

  “I wanted to surprise you. It took me and an entire crew all day to get this done.”

  “It worked. This is stunning. I had no idea it would be so…”

  “Fantastic?”

  “Yes.”

  “Watch this,” Jack said as he flipped a switch. The lighting changed from soft lights to black lights. “We can always check for scorpions before enjoying the area.”

  “Won’t the pool just drown them?”

  “Nope. Weird scorpion fact #20: They can hold their breath for up to six days. So if you stumble upon one in the water, don’t pick it up with your hands. It may not be dead.”

  “As if,” Chloe said with a shudder and Jack chuckled.

  “The area has been chemically treated and the stone fence actually has a layer of Plexiglas directly attached to the rock surface. It’s ingenious. They can’t climb up the fence and there are no crevices for them to hide. For the flooring, I chose this darker color of stone so we can see them easily. The outdoor furniture is all wrought iron, easy to clean, with no place for critters to conceal themselves. I’ve taken precautions to keep my little scorpion magnet safe.”

  Jack approached, wrapping his arms around her from behind. His breath tickled her ear. “I made this for us, Chloe. An escape from the world, a paradise for me and you.”

  “I love it.” Chloe noticed the women’s bathing suit spread out neatly on the chair.

  “For you,” he whispered. “For a midnight swim.”

  “This is breathtaking.”

  “There’s more.”

  “More?”

  “Yes, come with me,” he said enigmatically.

  He took her hand and led her up the stairs and then to the curving staircase, the one that led to the rooftop deck. Chloe wondered what was coming next.

  She wasn’t prepared for what met her eyes. The rooftop deck had been transformed. Intricate tile work had been laid to create a magnificent floor, a work of art in and of itself. The patio cover shaded the area while still allowing a fresh glimpse of the stars above. Climbing vines had been planted in two of the corners and already grew halfway up the structure. The entire area looked more like another room in the house than an outside space. A fire pit burned in the center, glowing invitingly, surrounded by cushy outdoor couches and chairs. It was luxury personified. The same soft guitar music playing downstairs wafted into the area through hidden speakers. A table in one corner was lit with candles and dinner sat under steel domes. The barbeque smoked in one corner, emitting a delicious scent. Patio misters, set on low, cooled the area with a refreshing haze.

  And there were candles. Everywhere. Covering the ground, the railing, and every available surface.

  Chloe gasped at the sight. It was one of the most beautiful visions she’d ever seen, the epitome of romance.

  And it was all for her.

  She had no idea Jack was such a romantic. Jack again wrapped his arms around her from behind, not interrupting her view. “Do you like it?”

  “I feel as though I’ve died and gone to heaven. This is incredible, Jack.”

  They stood that way for several moments, basking in the romantic atmosphere. His lips tickled her neck with soft little butterfly kisses. Chloe closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of being loved by Jack.

  “Thank you for this, Jack. I love your new home. Inside and out.”

  Slowly he turned her to face him, his hands holding her shoulders. “I want it to be our home, Chloe.”

  His sweet words and his actions didn’t coincide. He seemed edgy, his jaw muscle rigid with tension.

  “I want that too, Jack,” she answered, feeling trepidation build in her gut. This was a happy conversation. Why did he look so serious? So solemn? Was something wrong? Was there some reason why their dreams couldn’t come true?

  “I want our life to begin in this house. Me and you. For the rest of my existence, I want to come home at the end of the day and find you. I love my job, but frankly, it’s not my life—and I don’t want it to become the thing I live for. I want it to be you. You are my life; our children will be my life. I grew up in a huge family and I loved it. I want that for us. I love that children are important to both of us, that we both want the same things in life.”

  Chloe said nothing. Speaking of having children left her feeling both elated and petrified all at once. Having a child with Jack would be…incredible. Yet fear overwhelmed her at the thought. In spite of everything, she was more than willing to try again though. It wouldn’t be an easy experience by any means. It might even be agonizing as she worried over the health of her new baby. But she’d take the chance and do it. It was the only way. It was something she had to go through and not around.

  The Jack she knew and loved was casual, a little silly, and always had a huge grin on his face. She’d only just begun to know his passionate side. But this intense side was foreign to her. Although not unlikeable. He was making her heart race at an alarming speed. His hands left her shoulders and slowly slid down her arms, until he reached her hands, whereupon he hel
d them tightly within his own.

  “I’m so in love with you, Chloe,” he whispered. “More than anything, I want this to be our home,” he reiterated. His nerves were getting the best of him and Chloe wondered what it was he was trying to say. “I want to give you children, Chloe. I want to see your belly bulge with life. I want to see the look of joy on your face when you hold our newborn baby in your arms. I want to erase the sadness of the past and give you a future you can look forward to. I want that for you. I want that for us.”

  Chloe couldn’t speak. Tears wandered down her cheeks in slow rivulets.

  “I’ll stay at your side and I’ll never leave you, no matter what happens in our life. I’ll be with you. I promise you that.”

  He breathed in and out deeply as if anxious and Chloe didn’t understand his mood.

  He took a step closer, his lips only inches away from hers. She knew he was about to say something significant. As far as she was concerned he’d already said some pretty amazing things. Could he really top it?

  “I’ve been searching for you my entire life. Now that I’ve found you, I feel as though I’ve always known you, as if I’ve never lived a day without you. When I’m with you, no matter where we are, I’m home. All I want to do is fall on my knees in front of you and beg you to let me stay with you forever, to let me love you forever.” He kissed her cheek, letting his lips momentarily linger on her skin.

  Yep, he could top it.

  All at once, Jack fell down on both knees and suddenly Chloe knew exactly where this was going. She felt foolish for not realizing it sooner.

  “You didn’t suspect, did you?” he said, the grin she loved crossing his features.

  “Not a clue.”

  His expression turned serious again. “I love you, Chloe. You are the most selfless person I’ve ever met. I can’t think of a better way to spend my life than to have you at my side—to sleep next to you, to wake up with you, to hold you in my arms every single night of my life…” He paused, his eyes seeming to turn dark blue, “…to make love with you, to have children with you,” he whispered reverently. “Will you marry me?”